DATE=10/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA - CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-254596
BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Russian assault on the breakaway Chechen
region is continuing with heavy
bombardment in some areas. But Russian military
officers say a they don't plan on mounting a full-
scale invasion. Bill Gasperini reports from Moscow.
TEXT: Russian troops have reportedly moved into
several different parts of Chechnya near the border
with neighboring regions and have occupied at least
one village.
Some clashes have occurred with Chechen fighters,
who've vowed to resist the Russian advance.
Russian jets also continue to bomb targets inside
Chechnya such as bridges.
Eyewitnesses report a major bombing raid took place at
dawn on Sunday against a village which was the scene
of heavy fighting during the
disastrous war Russia fought with Chechnya from 1994
to 96.
Memories of that war are still fresh, and may account
for the new strategy the Russian military has adopted
this time;
Officials in Moscow say the objective is NOT to launch
a full assault, but to create a "sanitary zone"
(security zone) along the border.
Russian forces would occupy this zone to prevent any
movement in or out of the breakaway territory and
contain Chechen militants who Moscow accuses
of attacking the neighboring region of Dagestan.
Russia also blames the militants for a series of
deadly bomb blasts in various Russian cities,
something which has inflamed public opinion against
Chechens in general.
Militant leaders deny any responsibility for the
terrorist bombings, saying Russia is attacking
Chechnya for internal political reasons.
Some critics in Russia itself agree; on Saturday a
group of prominent Soviet-era dissidents blamed
Kremlin hard-liners for mounting the terrorist
bombings in order to divert attention from Russia's
many internal problems.
Earlier several Russian newspapers made the same
accusation, saying the Kremlin is trying to advance
the presidential ambitions of Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin in the run-up to elections next year.
As part of the political offensive, Mr. Putin says
Russia no longer recognizes the authority of
Chechnya's moderate president, Aslan Mashkadov.
it was Mr. Mahkhadov who signed a formal peace
agreement with Russian President Boris Yeltsin ending
the earlier war in 1997.
Whatever the reasons, once again Moscow is set on a
collision course with Chechnya. (Signed)
NEB/BG/PLM
03-Oct-1999 05:20 AM EDT (03-Oct-1999 0920 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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